Darebin Council's fine plans on nature strip rubbish

A proposal to fine homeowners and landlords for allowing dumped rubbish to pile up outside their properties is being investigated by Darebin Council.

Cr Tim Laurence said urgent action was needed to clean up streets, with dumped rubbish building up in front of homes, units and housing estates.

His strategy, outlined at a council meeting last week, included introducing local laws to fine homeowners for failing to remove waste and giving residents two vouchers a year for council’s free hard waste removal service.

The council offers one free hard waste removal of one cubic metre a year.

“We need a system where we give people notice to remove the rubbish or charge them $250 to do it,” Cr Laurence said.

On September 29, the Leader highlighted Darebin’s rubbish dumping problem and residents’ calls for an improved service.

Cr Laurence said a fine-based system would provide revenue for an extra hard waste pick-up.

Reservoir resident Annette Sinclair said she supported a new local law fining home owners, but insisted more needed to be done.

“We need a system where we all put out our rubbish on one nominated day,” Ms Sinclair said.